The differences between yesterday's video and today's show why song choice is so important on shows like American Idol. Yesterday's song was a torture for me to sing and most likely for you to hear! Today's video is also the first and only, but fits my voice loads better. I'm sure with practice and a key change (as Dale correctly suggested) "Time In A Bottle" could become something I'd enjoy singing, but life is too short! A size 16 woman could squeeze into a size 6 dress from Cache, but what's the point when Lane Bryant is around the corner?
The Wiz, for those that are unfamiliar, is a musical version of the Wizard of Oz with an all-black cast. The stage show debuted in 1974, and a movie adaptation starring Diana Ross and Michael Jackson was released in 1978. The song "Home" is this versions's "Over The Rainbow" and has been sung by Diana Ross (of course) and Stephanie Mills (the original Broadway Dorothy) as well as the recent version from Glee.
Why do I like it? Great lyrics, a nice rangy melody - this can be sung very plainly in a Broadway style or a la R&B with tons of riffs. Also, any song with a note held to the end is for me!
About my version - As I am not an urban teenager lost in Oz, I went with a Broadway approach, but years of hearing the Stephanie Mills version subconsciously caused me to use a few of her tricks, which may or may not have worked so well. This was the first and only take, and while I messed up a word and had a funny note here or there, I was happy enough to call it a wrap. I'd sing this song again, although the need for a 40 year old white guy to sing it is virtually non-existent. This is my favorite video so far (which is not saying much) and I'd give it an 8 out of 10.
Tomorrow - it's either my favorite song of all time or the lone hit from one of my favorite singers.
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Birthday Countdown 1973
After the relative success of yesterday's video, we're back to the trainwreck today!
Jim Croce's Time in a Bottle is one of those songs that gets a bad rap for cheesiness but is not that bad. He was the third artist to hit the #1 spot of the Hot 100 after death - guess who were the first two?
Why do I like it? I like the sound of the almost-classical guitar accompaniment, and the sentiment of the lyrics is touching.
About my version - This is the only and only take I did of this song, and as such is pretty rough. Also, this is with no warm-up, which generally is a must to smooth out the rough edges. This song is so clearly not for me and I don't think it would improve a whole lot, so one take was enough. I lose the rhythm occasionally but find it after a bit, and it sits in a funny spot in my voice. I have no desire to sing this again, but I still like the song. This is maybe a 5 out of 10 at best. Based on the first three days, I'm thinking that the folky singer/songwriter genre is not for me!
Tomorrow's song preview - from a Broadway show and also a hit movie, not exactly a mainstream hit, normally sung by urban teenage girls or middle-aged divas. So it's just right for me LOL
Jim Croce's Time in a Bottle is one of those songs that gets a bad rap for cheesiness but is not that bad. He was the third artist to hit the #1 spot of the Hot 100 after death - guess who were the first two?
Why do I like it? I like the sound of the almost-classical guitar accompaniment, and the sentiment of the lyrics is touching.
About my version - This is the only and only take I did of this song, and as such is pretty rough. Also, this is with no warm-up, which generally is a must to smooth out the rough edges. This song is so clearly not for me and I don't think it would improve a whole lot, so one take was enough. I lose the rhythm occasionally but find it after a bit, and it sits in a funny spot in my voice. I have no desire to sing this again, but I still like the song. This is maybe a 5 out of 10 at best. Based on the first three days, I'm thinking that the folky singer/songwriter genre is not for me!
Tomorrow's song preview - from a Broadway show and also a hit movie, not exactly a mainstream hit, normally sung by urban teenage girls or middle-aged divas. So it's just right for me LOL
Friday, August 5, 2011
Birthday Countdown 1972
Yesterday was like pulling the Band-Aid off, so today's song feels light years better for me. Hopefully you will feel the same!
Roberta Flack's The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face has been sung a million times. My favorite recordings of it are the original, Celine Dion's, George Michael's, and more recently the Leona Lewis version. It's been done in Italian by classical crossover artists somewhat often as well. The beautiful legato melody lends itself to a more operatic style.
Why do I like it? The melody is fluid, simple and builds to a great climax. It's a pleasure to sing it.
About my version - We have a backing track! Actually I found two that I tried - the higher of the two led me to a tenor high C that just about killed me and made the cats run for cover. So I opted for the version a third-ish lower - you and your pets will thank me! I shaved (go me!) but I am wearing a black shirt - black shirts and orange cats do not mix, so I need a lint brush. My Italian is crap - that's a rusty skill too - but it's so much easier to sing in than English. Also, I completely clipped the end of the high note, which is not the way to do it! Still, I VASTLY prefer this recording to yesterday's. This would be something I would love to continue to work on until all the bugs were out. I'd rate today's video a 7.5 out of 10.
Hint for tomorrow - It's not "The Way We Were", as I have sung that before many millions of times. It's actually a song sung and written by a guy! That's gonna be rare in this countdown.PS He's been dead a long time...
Roberta Flack's The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face has been sung a million times. My favorite recordings of it are the original, Celine Dion's, George Michael's, and more recently the Leona Lewis version. It's been done in Italian by classical crossover artists somewhat often as well. The beautiful legato melody lends itself to a more operatic style.
Why do I like it? The melody is fluid, simple and builds to a great climax. It's a pleasure to sing it.
About my version - We have a backing track! Actually I found two that I tried - the higher of the two led me to a tenor high C that just about killed me and made the cats run for cover. So I opted for the version a third-ish lower - you and your pets will thank me! I shaved (go me!) but I am wearing a black shirt - black shirts and orange cats do not mix, so I need a lint brush. My Italian is crap - that's a rusty skill too - but it's so much easier to sing in than English. Also, I completely clipped the end of the high note, which is not the way to do it! Still, I VASTLY prefer this recording to yesterday's. This would be something I would love to continue to work on until all the bugs were out. I'd rate today's video a 7.5 out of 10.
Hint for tomorrow - It's not "The Way We Were", as I have sung that before many millions of times. It's actually a song sung and written by a guy! That's gonna be rare in this countdown.PS He's been dead a long time...
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Birthday Countdown 1971
Boy, that was a long time ago! How has it been 40 years when I am just 29? Don't argue with my math, please...
My song for this first year is A Case of You by Joni Mitchell. I first came to know it through the late great Phoebe Snow's excellent rendition, and then later through Joni's various versions as well as kd lang's more recent cover.
Why do I like it? This song reminds me of me a lot - it's just like me to respond like a smartass when someone tells me how devoted they are. Also, the "I met a woman" lyric reminds me of Mike's mom, who I did meet just once before she passed, and she did have a mouth like Mike's.
About my version - None of the backing tracks available online pleased me, so this is a capella, which makes for a rough first video, que sera sera disclaimer blah blah blah. Also, I did not shave, I'm wearing what I slept in, and I generally look like a homeless person. Truth be told, I didn't even watch the video, I just listened to make sure it came out ok, so if I make weird faces please don't tell me :-) (Really, you must tell me) There's about 5 notes I really wish I could change, based on my one-time listen of it. Also, my vowels are weird and I should have warmed up a bit. But overall I am quite pleased, or as happy as any singer ever is with their own work.
Based on what I heard, I'd give this a 6.2 out of 10. That's what I call Winning©!
Sneak peek of tomorrow - a crossover super-hit from 1972, covered often, that I will sing in Italian, because I can. (Maybe)
My song for this first year is A Case of You by Joni Mitchell. I first came to know it through the late great Phoebe Snow's excellent rendition, and then later through Joni's various versions as well as kd lang's more recent cover.
Why do I like it? This song reminds me of me a lot - it's just like me to respond like a smartass when someone tells me how devoted they are. Also, the "I met a woman" lyric reminds me of Mike's mom, who I did meet just once before she passed, and she did have a mouth like Mike's.
About my version - None of the backing tracks available online pleased me, so this is a capella, which makes for a rough first video, que sera sera disclaimer blah blah blah. Also, I did not shave, I'm wearing what I slept in, and I generally look like a homeless person. Truth be told, I didn't even watch the video, I just listened to make sure it came out ok, so if I make weird faces please don't tell me :-) (Really, you must tell me) There's about 5 notes I really wish I could change, based on my one-time listen of it. Also, my vowels are weird and I should have warmed up a bit. But overall I am quite pleased, or as happy as any singer ever is with their own work.
Based on what I heard, I'd give this a 6.2 out of 10. That's what I call Winning©!
Sneak peek of tomorrow - a crossover super-hit from 1972, covered often, that I will sing in Italian, because I can. (Maybe)
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Birthday countdown starts tomorrow!
I'm really looking forward to it. I don't sing a lot any more - the last time in public was just about a year ago, at a friend's shower, and that was just karaoke. I actually got sick of hearing myself at some point in the 1990's and didn't care for what years of training had made my voice sound like. In classical music, volume is really everything - imagine having to be heard over full orchestras - and that orchestra are between you and the audience! It's like shouting to someone on the other side of the arena at a concert. Because of that, smaller voices like mine are taught a multitude of tricks and techniques to give an illusion of volume. It's been long enough now that most of those habits have been lost, so hopefully what's left is something I'll enjoy hearing.
This countdown is really a gift to myself - the songs I'm singing are some of my favorites and before the inevitable decline I'd like to have a record of my versions of them. Many of them are not really songs I would normally sing, for one reason or another, so I'm being indulgent. Anyone who knows me will not be shocked that the list is heavy on ballads, so don't expect me to start rapping or anything. I am trying to stick to a couple rules:
This countdown is really a gift to myself - the songs I'm singing are some of my favorites and before the inevitable decline I'd like to have a record of my versions of them. Many of them are not really songs I would normally sing, for one reason or another, so I'm being indulgent. Anyone who knows me will not be shocked that the list is heavy on ballads, so don't expect me to start rapping or anything. I am trying to stick to a couple rules:
- No songs that I have previously sung in public
- Only one song per artist can make the list - this prevents a tribute to Barbra Streisand. You're welcome!
I'm still woefully unprepared, so any suggestions for songs are welcome.
Tomorrow we go back to 1971, and my favorite song by a legendary singer-songwriter. It's been covered a million times, so what's one more...
Any guesses?
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood
I get up early most mornings, whether I need to or not. I love that time after the sun rises but before Mike's alarm goes off - stolen moments...The day is new and full of possibilities, plus the light outside is still soft and beautiful.
Last night's dinner was inspired by my sister-in-law Janet. She recently posted on Facebook that she was making green beans and cornbread, and as I am easily influenced, I decided that we should do the same. Then I thought of a recent cookbook purchase, Vegetables from an Italian Garden, and looked to see what green bean dishes could be found in it. This cookbook is divided by seasons, and in the summer section were loads of green bean recipes. I picked one very close in ingredients to the Southern version prepared in my family and it turned out to be delicious! My mother made fried cornbread with an Italian twist (with Italian seasonings, fried in olive oil) and the two dishes together made a great summer meal. I don't have a link to the exact recipe, but this one is pretty close - just leave out the tomatoes and lemon juice (or not!).
Monday, August 1, 2011
Physician, heal thyself! Luke 4:23
LINK: Can Therapy Help Change Sexual Orientation?
There are many reasons why I may need therapy, but this is not one of them. Society pressures all kinds of people into doing things to fix what is "wrong" with them - girls starve or purge because they are too fat, many women inject poison into their face to look younger (but end up just looking embalmed), some men take hair from the back of their head and sew it on the front. So why not take a child, already confused and scared and looking for answers that are often nowhere to be found, and teach him that his feelings are so wrong that they must be eradicated and replaced with a veneer of "normality". For you straight readers, consider how much brainwashing and intimidation would be needed to persuade you to be gay, or at least to pretend to be? No wonder so many kill themselves along the way.
What is being done in these clinics, often in the name of God, is disgusting and inhuman. What's more, to have it tied into our national politics through Ms. Bachmann and her family business makes us seem no better than the African nation of Ghana, where as recently as today the government is actively seeking gays and lesbians to arrest, prosecute, and execute.
You don't have to like homosexuals, just like I don't have to like chicken liver. Smile to my face and then talk behind my back, if you will. I will gladly settle for the lip-service version of equality that African-Americans often receive from those wish the Confederacy had won the Civil War. But someday it will be single mothers or mixed race children or Methodists that the powers-that-be think require "fixing". Remember what German concentration camp survivor Martin Niemoller said:
There are many reasons why I may need therapy, but this is not one of them. Society pressures all kinds of people into doing things to fix what is "wrong" with them - girls starve or purge because they are too fat, many women inject poison into their face to look younger (but end up just looking embalmed), some men take hair from the back of their head and sew it on the front. So why not take a child, already confused and scared and looking for answers that are often nowhere to be found, and teach him that his feelings are so wrong that they must be eradicated and replaced with a veneer of "normality". For you straight readers, consider how much brainwashing and intimidation would be needed to persuade you to be gay, or at least to pretend to be? No wonder so many kill themselves along the way.
What is being done in these clinics, often in the name of God, is disgusting and inhuman. What's more, to have it tied into our national politics through Ms. Bachmann and her family business makes us seem no better than the African nation of Ghana, where as recently as today the government is actively seeking gays and lesbians to arrest, prosecute, and execute.
You don't have to like homosexuals, just like I don't have to like chicken liver. Smile to my face and then talk behind my back, if you will. I will gladly settle for the lip-service version of equality that African-Americans often receive from those wish the Confederacy had won the Civil War. But someday it will be single mothers or mixed race children or Methodists that the powers-that-be think require "fixing". Remember what German concentration camp survivor Martin Niemoller said:
First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out --
Because I was not a Socialist.
Because I was not a Socialist.
Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out --
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out --
Because I was not a Jew.
Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me -- and there was no one left to speak for me.
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